Double Bass How much humiliation is appropriate?

[Jazzdogg]

I got smacked in the nose with a rolled-up newspaper plenty when I was starting out (late sixties, early seventies); the older cats could be brutal, but I learned a lot, and survived.

Do your homework, check your ego at the door, relax, and have a good time!

 

[brianrost]

I've been invited to a bop session that is way out of my league. I'm going to let them know their material is too advanced for me; but I kind of want to go anyway and suffer the humiliation.

You have described every jazz gig I have ever played (fewer than two dozen in all).

When invited, I always state my limitations up front (don’t expect me to sightread bass charts, don't expect me to solo over anything more complicated than blues or rhythm changes, don't expect me to cruise along at 300bpm on bop tunes) so there’s no surprises on the stage.

Good luck and try to stay calm so you can have some fun.

 

[Sam Sherry]

I've been invited to a bop session that is way out of my league.

You have described every jazz gig I have ever played (fewer than two dozen in all).

I've been playing jazz on the bass for almost fifty years. You have described every jazz gig I have ever played, which is hundreds or a thousand or whatever.

They're all outta my league -- every single one. As with any creative endeavor, the bar is set within sight but never within reach. Every single time there is plenty that needs serious improvement. But still, every time people still seem to have found something of value in the music and even my modest "contribution."

If this keeps up I'm gonna have to conclude that it's a feature, not a bug.

All the best with your quest. It's a work in progress.

 

[Treyzer]

Some of my most vivid and character building experiences in music came when I jumped in to the deep end. Sometimes it hurt, and sometimes my ego was bruised but it always helped to make me become better at my craft. I remember one particular instance when I was invited to play with two incredible and well known musicians (not gonna name drop) because they’d heard me on a tv show, (not gonna name it). They were so much more experienced and musically evolved that when we started playing, all I could do was play quarters and hold on for dear life. Afterwards, we all knew I wasn’t what they were looking for but both of them were very generous and kind. Neither tore me down or made me feel small. Oddly enough, they complemented me on a few things which seemed overly kind. Anyway, the experience made want to learn more, practice more and generally become more accomplished. So, take a “leap of faith” and put yourself out there.

 

[BassChap]

Hello.
I've been invited to a bop session that is way out of my league. I'm going to let them know their material is too advanced for me; but I kind of want to go anyway and suffer the humiliation. Everyone says you have to play with other people. You have to step out of your comfort zone. Take a risk. Maybe get whacked on the nose with a rolled up newspaper. Maybe be invited back.

Option 2 is too turn the gig down and never meet these people. Lose what is an opportunity to push my playing. It's just a jam session in a studio, not a live show, so that eases the pain.

What are your thoughts? What would you do?

Thank you.

Curious to learn how this ends/ended. Do/did you go?

 

[Michael F Clef]

Curious to learn how this ends/ended. Do/did you go?

So the session went very well. They are a nice, supportive bunch of fellows. They adjusted their tempos and charts to ease me in.
It also turns out I'm better than I thought I was. I'll probably be playing with them fairly regularly as a fill in.
Practice pays.

 

[BassChap]

So the session went very well. They are a nice, supportive bunch of fellows. They adjusted their tempos and charts to ease me in.
It also turns out I'm better than I thought I was. I'll probably be playing with them fairly regularly as a fill in.
Practice pays.

That is great! Nice to hear. Thanks for the update.

 

[Dave Leighton]

I'm a long time EB player and started playing in a progressive bluegrass band in May on ABG, and started DB in August. Still have horrible technique, but continue to work on it as we play several shows a month. Still play with my eyes way to much, working on that. I will be headed to the next blugrass jam in the area.

The idea of this makes me very nervous. We all have insecurities. The people that are less than gracious I believe will be less than those that are. But I know it will be good for me and my playing.

Dave

 

[DrCannabass]

The last straw was the military ball where we were supposed to play the "Marine's Hymn" and "Anchors Aweigh" for the procession, and these cats (some professors, great players, major *ssholes) were swinging these marches turning the whole thing into a comedy at which folks were laughing instead of having the reverence for the situation and playing the tunes straight.

I also got tired of the horn player turning to me and quickly saying "...key of D-flat (some tune I've never heard, no chart), 1, 2, 1234 (temp in 230 bpm range)"

 

[themickster]

Hello.
I've been invited to a bop session that is way out of my league. I'm going to let them know their material is too advanced for me; but I kind of want to go anyway and suffer the humiliation. Everyone says you have to play with other people. You have to step out of your comfort zone. Take a risk. Maybe get whacked on the nose with a rolled up newspaper. Maybe be invited back.

Option 2 is too turn the gig down and never meet these people. Lose what is an opportunity to push my playing. It's just a jam session in a studio, not a live show, so that eases the pain.

What are your thoughts? What would you do?

Thank you.

Do it

 

[Michael F Clef]

So it turns out I didn't pass the audition after all. I saw the same guys advertised looking for a bass player. I think I like that even better. I know I need a lot more work to do. Regardless, they are a good group of nice guys and excellent musicians. It was a great experience and it didn't hurt a bit. Now let me get back to practicing.

 

[Mark_T]

So it turns out I didn't pass the audition after all. I saw the same guys advertised looking for a bass player. I think I like that even better. I know I need a lot more work to do. Regardless, they are a good group of nice guys and excellent musicians. It was a great experience and it didn't hurt a bit. Now let me get back to practicing.

On the bright side: you tried it, you learned. You might not want a gig where you're feeling out of your league/comfort zone all the time, but you had the experience and maybe know what to work on for next time. Good on you.

 

[Altitude]

So it turns out I didn't pass the audition after all. I saw the same guys advertised looking for a bass player. I think I like that even better. I know I need a lot more work to do. Regardless, they are a good group of nice guys and excellent musicians. It was a great experience and it didn't hurt a bit. Now let me get back to practicing.

I didn’t see that it was an audition until this point in the thread. But I guess all sessions with new players are, in some way.

As pretty much everyone has said, there was zero downside for you here. You met new players, who knows when you’ll run across one of them again. You said you surprised yourself with your competence, so that’s a great door to some personal motivation. Maybe you learned a few new tunes. It’s all good.

This sounds like me in my first year of the jazz program at UT Austin in 1989. I thought listening to Chick Corea Elektric Band had made me a jazz player, and suddenly I was thrust into situations with people who actually were. It was indeed humbling but most of my cohorts were helpful and it wasn’t long before I felt comfortable.

Keep doing it!

 

[TomB]

You’re on their call list. Good place to be!

 

[AgostoMortal]

No. Kenny just uses that as a metaphorical example. And I think he sounds great! Those albums he made with Johannes Wiedenmuller and Ari Hoenig are just great, IMO. Also the one with Ratzo Harris and Tom Rainey is great. EEMWCB, of course.

EEMWCB ???!!!!??? we keep on adding longer and longer acronyms?..just when I knew what IMHO and YMMV was!

 

[turf3]

Well, in a couple weeks I'm headed to my first open jazz jam in 3+ years and I don't know what to expect. The guy sent me a tune list from the last time, and it was all stuff I know and have played; but I'm in Dallas so it could be some lame non-players clunking their way through the Real Book or it could be a bunch of guys with masters' from NTSU that want a break from band-director stuff like charting out marching band patterns.

I'm going to take the upright and the bari sax: the jam leader said "we usually have a bass player and some saxes" so I may well be the fifth wheel.

Wish me luck.

 

[TroyK]

Well, in a couple weeks I'm headed to my first open jazz jam in 3+ years and I don't know what to expect. The guy sent me a tune list from the last time, and it was all stuff I know and have played; but I'm in Dallas so it could be some lame non-players clunking their way through the Real Book or it could be a bunch of guys with masters' from NTSU that want a break from band-director stuff like charting out marching band patterns.

I'm going to take the upright and the bari sax: the jam leader said "we usually have a bass player and some saxes" so I may well be the fifth wheel.

Wish me luck.

Good luck!

...but it's been UNT since about 1988...

 

[Lee Moses]

So it turns out I didn't pass the audition after all. I saw the same guys advertised looking for a bass player. I think I like that even better. I know I need a lot more work to do. Regardless, they are a good group of nice guys and excellent musicians. It was a great experience and it didn't hurt a bit. Now let me get back to practicing.

You have a great attitude. Keep it up!

 

[turf3]

Good luck!

...but it's been UNT since about 1988...

Yeah, but that really causes problems with the call sign of their radio station.

Unfortunately the State of Texas has bought fully into the idea that if you don't know what to do, you rename the entity - thus Southwest Texas State becomes "Texas State University", East Texas State becomes "Texas A&M-Commerce" and so on, and so on, and so on. Now that I'm old, I can choose to disregard this kind of nonsense.

 

[TroyK]

I was a student there during the name change and the implications on KNTU FM were amusing.

I *think* the name change started as a student thing and the first choice was "Texas State University", which resulted in the creation of a bar called "The State Club", where...well, actually I don't remember much about what happened there.